Scuffles broke out as police officers linked arms and moved rival groups of protesters away from each other.

There were minor flashpoints throughout the afternoon as the respective groups tried to break out from their restricted areas and confront each other, as early Christmas shoppers looked on.

At one point a missile was thrown (by uaf) and supporters spat at each other as they managed to get within a relatively short distance of each other.

A red flare (uaf again) lit by one of the protesters was grabbed by a police officer who managed to put it out.

One protester was grabbed by officers and dragged towards a nearby police van.

Several streets in the city were closed as the demonstrations took place.

Five people (uaf) were arrested for public order offences.

Later, in nearby City Square around 300 supporters from the English Defence League gathered amid a large police presence.

Activists sang England songs and God Save The Queen in the Square which was cordoned off by barriers and police officers.

Meanwhile in London, a planned march organised by radical Islamic extremists calling for sharia law to be imposed in the UK was called off amid security fears.

Anjem Choudary, leader of the radical Islamic sect Al Muhajiroun, said organisers Islam4UK had been forced to cancel the planned march from the Houses of Parliament to Trafalgar Square because of security concerns.